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MARQUIS FAYETTE KING 



NATHAN GOOLD. 



BOSTON: 

PRESS OF DAVID CLAPP & SON. 
1905. 






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[Reprinted from the New-England Historical and Genealogical Register, July, 1905.] 



(Person) 

15 N '05 



MAEQUIS FAYETTE KING. 



Hon. Marquis Fayette Kestg, the Vice-President for Maine of 
the New-England Historic Genealogical Society, succeeding hio 
intimate friend Hon. Josiah Hayden Drummond in that office, died in 
Portland, Maine, Friday, October 21, 1904, at the age of 69 years, 
8 months, and 2 days. The funei-al services were of extreme simpli- 
city, with an impressive committal service at the grave performed 
by his brother, Rev. Henry Melville King, D.D., the last survivor 
of the family. Few men are ever taken from a community for whom 
more sincere sorrow was expressed by all classes. 

Marquis F. King was born at Craigie's Mills, in the town of 
Oxford, Maine, Feb. 18, 1835. He was the son of Col. Samuel 
Hall and Eliza (Shaw) King, and was one of the two survivors of 
ten children, the others dying in childhood. The brother is the 
Rev. Henry Melville King, of the First Baptist Church of Provi- 
dence, R. I. The father's first settlement was at Craigie's Mills, 
about 1823, it then being in the town of Hebron, where he was 
actively engaged in developing the valuable water power aflPorded 
by Thompson's Pond, where Oxford Village now is. In company 
with another, he bought a large tract of land from the heirs of 
Andrew Craigie of Cambridge, Mass., who had built the saw mill 
that gave the name to the settlement. The purchase included much 
of the land now occupied by the village. Mr. Craigie had been the 
Apothecary General of the Continental Army, and his house at 
Cambridge was the headquarters of Gen. Washington during the 
siege of Boston, and later became the home of the poet Longfellow. 
It still bears the name " Craigie." The partnership was of short 
duration, for Mr. King, reserving a sufficient amount of land for a 
large farm, sold the balance to his partner, and proceeded to clear 
his own land for cultivation. He had learned the trade of house- 
wright of his father, and built his own buildings. He was also en- 
gaged in trade and lumber operations. Col. King was a selectman 
of Hebron, an advocate of the division of the town, and was elected 
the chairman of the first board of selectmen of Oxford. 



Col. Samuel H. King was commissioned an ensign by Gov. 
John Brooks, a lieutenant in 1820, by Gov. William King, the 
first governor of Maine, a captain in 1822, a major in 1825, lieu- 
tenant-colonel in 1826, by Gov. Albion K. Paris, and colonel in 
1827, by Gov. Enoch Lincoln. He vt^as honorably discharged 
April 22, 1833. 

Col. King was the eldest child of Capt. Samuel and Sally (Hall) 
King, and was born at Paris, Maine, Feb. 4, 1799. He married, 
Oct. 31, 1824, Eliza, the daughter of Gilbert and Silence (Cole) 
Shaw of Paris. She was born Sept. 2, 1801, and was eighth in 
lineal descent from Abraham Shaw of Halifax, England, who died 
at Dedham, Mass., in 1638. She was also eighth in descent from 
John Shaw of Plymouth. 

Col. Samuel H. King moved to Portland, Feb. 10, 1845, where 
he engaged in the country produce and grocery business, and died 
there, May 6, 1864, aged 65 years. He was a man of commanding 
presence and of dignified manners. His wife was a woman of 
strong character, of affectionate disposition, and was a model wife 
and mother. She died, after years of suffering borne with Chris- 
tian fortitude, Jan. 22, 1875, aged 73 years. 

The grandfather, Capt, Samuel King, was the son of George and 
Betty (Shaw) King, and was born at Raynham, Mass. His wife 
was Sally, daughter of Jonathan and Lydia (Haven) Hall, whom 
he married in 1798. He went to Paris, Maine, with his uncle, 
Jarius Shaw, in 1793. Capt. Samuel King was a descendant of 
John and Mary King who came with John Humphrey, Deputy 
Governor of the Massachusetts Company, and were in his service in 
England. It is thought that they were of the Dorsetshire family. 
John King was born in 1600, and permanently settled in Wey- 
mouth, Mass., before 1640, at a place called "King's Cove." He 
was recorded as a " seaman," " planter," and " goodman." In 1663 
he was one of the proprietors of Mendon. His son Philip, whose 
wife was Judith Whitman, was the father of John King, who mar- 
ried Alice Dean, and they were the parents of Benjamin King, wife 
Abiah Leonard. The latter were the parents of George King, the 
father of Capt. Samuel, the grandfather of Marquis F. King. 

At the age of nineteen, Marquis F. King engaged in photo- 
graphy, and was one of the first and one of the most proficient in 
that occupation. He served in the militia, and was a Republican 
in politics, voting for the first nominee of that party for the Presi- 
dency in 1856. He served in Portland's City Council in 1868, was 
an Alderman in 1871, 1872, and 1882, and was elected Mayor of 
the City, in 1884, by a larger vote than had ever been given a can- 
didate. He was a member of Gov. Edwin C. Bui-leigh's Council 
in 1891, and of Gov. Henry B. Cleaves's in 1893, for terms of two 
years each. He was also a Trustee of the Portland Public Library 
and of the State School for Boys. 



Mr. King had four ancestors who took an active part in the War 
of the Revolution, viz : Benjamin King, a delegate to the Provin- 
cial Congress, Sergeant George King, Lieutenant Eleazer Cole, and 
Corporal Abner Shaw. He was one of the first members of the 
Maine Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and served 
as a Councilor several years. He rendered valuable service in 
aiding applicants to become members. 

When the Union Safe Deposit and Trust Company was estab- 
lished in Portland, in 1893, he became the manager of the Safety 
Vaults, which position he held with the same fidelity that charac- 
terized his life. A committee of the directors submitted the fol- 
lowing to the Board : — 

" In the death of Hon. Marquis F. King the Union Safe Deposit and 
Trust Company loses an official whose connection with it from its inception 
was marked by those qualities which justify confidence and inspire esteem ; 
this community loses a citizen who had served it with faithful abihty ia 
varied stations, inchiding the highest within its gift ; and a wide circle of 
friends have lost a genial associate whose sterling character commanded 
respect." 

Mr. King was greatly interested in Masonry, and had its highest 
honors. He was made a Mason in 1859, in Ancient Land Mark 
Lodge in Portland. In 1863 he received the degrees of the Scot- 
tish Rite, and May 18, 1865, received the thirty-third degree and 
became an Honorary Member of the Northern Supreme Council, 
and Sept. 17, 1885, was made an Active Member. He held offices 
in the Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Commandery. He was for 
two years Grand INIaster of Masons in Maine, and was the Grand 
Treasurer from 1894 until his death. He was Deputy of the Su- 
preme Council of Maine from 1886. He assisted to form the 
Knights of Constantino, and was the Grand Treasurer. He re- 
ceived the degree of Grand Cross, and was the Treasurer until two 
years before his death. He also was editor of the Masonic Journal 
for fourteen years, which ceased issue with the next number after 
his death. 

For twenty-three years Mr. King was a director of the Union 
Mutual Life Insurance Company. But two survive who were 
members when he was elected to the board. One, president Fred 
E. Richards, announced Mr. King's death at a special meeting 
of the directors in the following words, which were ordered to be 
copied into the records : — 

" The quorum of the old board stands on the other shore to welcome 
him whose chair is vacant and whose loss we mourn to-day. Marquis F. 
King was the personification of conscientious independence. He was slow 
to make acquaintances, and slower yet to accept acquaintances as friends. 
The opinion of others he received as collateral evidence only in support of 
conclusions arrived at by his own personal investigation. When a friend- 
ship was once formed by him its strength was such that time or circum- 
stances could seldom sever the chain of his confidence. His name was the 



6 

synonym of honesty and integrity. As he stood guardian of the millions 
deposited in the strong boxes of the Union Safe Deposit and Trust Com- 
pany, its patrons knew their property was absolutely safe in his keeping. 
By his death the State loses one who had been efficient and faithful in 
its service ; the city loses one of the best of its leading citizens ; this com- 
pany loses a wise and conservative councelor, and the loss to his family is 
irreparable." 

Marquis F. King married, March 8, 1856, Frances Olivia Plais- 
ted, a daughter of Samuel Pomery and Sabrina (Perkins) Plaisted 
of Portland. She w^as the eighth in descent from Lieut. Roger 
Plaisted who was killed in the attack on Berwick, Maine, in 1675, 
They had five children : Walter, who died in infancy, Luetta, Dr. 
Alfred, the distinguished surgeon of Portland, Warren C, and 
Francis P., who are now living. 

Mr, King was a man of large physique, being upwards of six 
feet in height, and was well proportioned. He enjoyed vigorous 
health, which enabled him to perform the vast amount of work that 
fell to him to do. He discharged his duties faithfully, and what- 
ever he undertook he did well. He had a strong will, unwearied 
perseverance, and possessed good executive ability. He was always 
self-controlled, and was a true friend. His rule seemed to be to do 
right because it was right. By his courtesy and kindly manner he 
won people to him who learned the value of his friendship. He 
was a useful citizen who left the best of himself with the world. 

Marquis Fayette King was a valued genealogist and historian. 
His store of information was always at the service of the inquirer, 
and many in the land mourn his taking off. He was elected a 
member of the Maine Historical Society in 1889, and was an in- 
terested and useful acvjuisition, being constantly contributing books 
to their library. He was an honorary member of the Old Colony 
Historical Society, in a locality of much interest to him. 

It was in the Maine Genealogical Society, of which he was the 
president for fifteen years, that he found lais greatest usefulness. 
Much of the success of that Society is due to his efforts. During 
that time, he edited the Notes and Queries columns in the Port- 
land Evening Express for several years, through which much, 
genealogical and historical knowledge was diffused. 

Mr. King's tribute to his native town was his " Annals of Ox- 
ford," 1903, a handsome volume of 298 pages, that will be his 
monument in that town. It was dedicated to his parents as fol- 
lows : — 

"To the sacred memory of My Beloved Father and Mother, whose 
patient toil and sacrifice guarded my ciiildhood ; whose wisdom and expe- 
rience guided my youth and whose excellent precepts and examples are an 
ever present admonition to a better manhood ; also to my dear brothers 
and sisters — one oidy surviving (the tiny forms of the others resting in 
nnmarked graves on the sunny sliore of the mill-pond, opposite the ancient 
homestead of Esquiie Keith ; a spot once set apart as " God's Acre," but 
later reclaimed for tillage) this volume is affectionately dedicated." 



His last publication, " Some of the Descendants of Roger Plais- 
ted," was his tribute to his esteemed wife and her family. The 
dedication in this book was as follows : — 

'< To Frances Olivia Plaisted, who on the eighth day of March, eighteen 
hundred and fifty-six, in the City of Porthmd, at the residence of Rev. 
George W. Bosworth, D.D., in the presence of Mr. Samuel Sylvester 
Starhird and Miss Susan Elizabeth Plaisted, voluntarily resigned an hon- 
ored family name, that she might honorably perpetuate another, by be- 
coming the loving and beloved wife of the compiler, who hopes this work 
may ever be a lasting monument to thee. 

Portland, Me., July 15, 1904." 

Mr. King set the type and printed these books with his own 
hands. They are rare literary efforts, and were the product of his 
heart, his head and his hands. 

The compilation of the names changed by the Legislatures of 
Maine, from 1820 to 1895, was his work, and through his influ- 
ence the State published the names of nearly one thousand soldiers 
of the Revolution preserved in the Land Office papers. The vol- 
umes 12 and 13 of the York Deeds were published under his direc- 
tion. He compiled the town vital records of Gorham, Maine, to 
1800, and also the records of the First Parish Society of Portland. 
He made several valuable scrapbooks for the Maine Genealogical 
Society's library, that exhibit much patient and unselfish labor and 
interest. But for him they would probably have never been made. 
He had in preparation the history of his own and that of the Shaw 
family. 

Marquis F. King carried through to completion the erection of a 
monument at the grave of his life-long friend, Hon. Josiah H. 
Drummond. It was a notable undertaking done by small contri- 
tions from the many friends, and was a great tribute to a kindly and 
honored life. His eulogy at the dedication of the monument was 
one of his best efforts. 

This was not all that Mr. King did, but it was a great work for 
one to do in addition to the necessary responsibilities of life. None 
knew the value better than himself, and that was his compensation. 
He knew it from personal experience. Such work is above all 
meanness and is an inspiration to others. It will be his most last- 
ing monument. When stone monuments have crumbled, his books 
will be read by those seeking such knowledge. 

Marquis Fayette King was a representative man ; a substantial 
citizen without pretence, who was interested in all organizations 
that were for the benefit of his fellow man. The value of his life 
has not been over-estimated. It was a success, and the world is 
better for his living. 

" We mourn no blighted hope nor broken plan 
With him whose life stands rounded and approved 
In the full growth and stature of a man." 



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